Linebacker Aldon Smith is scheduled to be sentenced in Santa Clara County Superior Court this afternoon, a week earlier than originally scheduled after his no-contest pleas in May for felony weapon possession and misdemeanor drunk driving.

Check back to this blog and our website for developments throughout the afternoon.

Smith is facing zero days in county jail to four years and four months.

Smith’s sentencing had been scheduled for next Friday, two days after the 49ers’ full squad was to report to training camp at their Santa Clara facility. Smith participated in the team’s offseason program and June minicamp despite the specter of his pending legal issues.

Perhaps working in Smith’s favor for a lighter sentence is this combination: his no-contest pleas in May showed accountability, his not being charged in Los Angeles for an alleged fake bomb threat in April at Los Angeles International Airport, and his ability to steer clear of further trouble the past three months.

Smith, 24, has kept a positive profile in public since that LAX arrest. He’s done community work with the Boys & Girls Club, headlined a charity basketball game between 49ers and Raiders (he only played in the final minute) and he attended Saturday’s flag-football game at Candlestick between former 49ers and other NFL legends.

After Smith’s no-contest pleas in May, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke issued a statement that the team has “closely monitored” Smith’s case and thought his pleas were an “important step” en route to a resolution.

Smith’s San Carlos-based attorney Josh Bently said after the May proceedings that Smith “continues to accept responsibility for his actions. We are looking forward to the next court appearance and are confident that the Court will reach an appropriate sentence.”

The NFL has not stated the type of discipline Smith might face, although commissioner Roger Goodell commented last October that he’d take into consideration how Smith voluntarily missed five games last season while seeking substance-abuse treatment.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Friday before Smith’s sentencing: “It will be reviewed under our policies.”

— Conduct that imposes inherent danger to the safety and well being of another person; and— Conduct that undermines or puts at risk the integrity and reputation of the NFL, NFL clubs, or NFL players.)

Smith’s 42 regular-season sacks are the league’s second-most since 2011, behind only Jared Allen’s 45 ½. After setting a 49ers rookie record with 14 sacks, he produced 19 ½ in the 49ers’ 2013 season that led to a Super Bowl berth. Last year he had 8 ½ sacks, with 4 ½ coming before he took a voluntary leave of absence from Sept. 23 to Oct. 31.

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Notable suspensions related to off-field conduct since 2006, when Roger Goodell became commissioner: